even if you don't owe a penny, uncle sam will send you a $1,000 check. >> when you get a letter from the university saying this is your financial aid package, don't think that's the last word. >> if you have special circumstances you can write a letter of appeal. it's a important term, professional judgment of review. >> if we lost our job or we had these big medical expenses, this is why we need more aid. >> let's talk a little bit about federal student loans. when it comes to borrowing, they're better, why? >> they're much better because when you graduate you can consolidate them with the federal government, stick with the federal loans and ask for income-based repayment. that means that your payment will never exceed 15% of your adjusted gross income, which means you won't go broke paying them back, and if you're a federal employee or a government employee, you can make ten years of payments and get the rest of your lobes forgive. so you'll never go broke and there's a light at the end of the tunnel. >> pretty interesting stuff. thank you so much. nice to see you. >>> coming up, i